Any Canadians claiming lyme treatment re: income tax?

Since traveling to the U.S. (2018) is so costly - I am going to claim my medical expenses this year.

Just wondering if anyone has already claimed Dr. appt fee, travel (hotel, airfare, meals)...etc. on their taxes...and was it accepted?

I usually do Turbotax...but I spoke to an accountant today and it's a bit more complicated...so I'm thinking of having her do them....I think it's worth the cost. She figured it wouldn't cost too much as it shouldn't take more than an hour or two....
The one sticking point - might be getting a letter from my Doctor that says I could not get treatment in my city and or in Canada.
She knows I have lyme disease...but she may not be willing to write that note...as she knows that I was seeing a LLND not too far away (altho, still not in my city) prior to going to the J clinic.
I have explained that Dr. J is an ID Dr. and my LLND couldn't prescribe one medication that is often used to treat Babesia....so hoping she will side with me and give me the letter.

I can also claim my husband's travel expense IF I needed assistance. So, I am going to do that...as it would be very difficult to travel all that way...on my own. The first time we went...I was clueless in the airport...very confused.
Plus I have trouble lifting the luggage.....mainly because of my spine issues.
The accountant said a Dr. note isn't required to justify my husband going with to help me.

sandyfeet said...
I haven’t tried but mine is all naturopath visits and herbs. :l

I would love to hear that you succeeded in getting some back Girlie!

Are you not claiming the Naturopath visits?

I haven't been working, but I can split some of my husband's earnings - which reduces his taxable income.

Alxander said...
Hi Girlie!

I've looked into this with my accountant, and he told me to follow his sugestion:
- DO put on tax report all official doctor appointment, prescribed labwork, and fees for PRESCRIBED medications/herbals
- DO NOT put any fee for transportation/hotel/food

I'm not a fiscalist expert so I followed his advice when he said I would just run into problems with putting in transport/hotel/food, so not to do it.

Are you in Canada?

My accountant has told me I can claim the hotel, airfare, meals as well as my U.S. Lyme doc appointments.
...and my husband's.
This is due to the fact that I can't get an MD here to treat me. There is one in Alberta now...but last I heard his waitlist is over a year...and he's not taking any more names.


Alxander - Why not the transportation/hotel/food. If the Dr. is legit...and you're claiming the appt and lab fees...why not the rest?

Yah - maybe a ND appt isn’t an allowable med expense.

physedgirl09 said...
Hey girlie-

although i am not Canadian, I did claim every single dollar that ive spent on my lyme treatment plus traveling... everything was accepted and i had no issues... just my 2 cents

Good to know!

Alxander said...
Yes I am in Quebec.

You're right, the worse that can happen is that they will investigate, ask for proof, and judge if the claim can be made. If not, you'll need to pay back some of the tax return.

My accountant told me putting the travelling fees would just bring more of their attention and things might get very complicated. But at the same time, I felt a bit like you "why not just try it".
I decided the easy way out heh.

My accountant said they will likely investigate right away - before any refund is issued ... that’s ok - I’m patient... lol

nester said...
Hey. I claimed my naturopathic visits and that's all they would touch. They wouldn't even acknowledge my vitamins or supplements or anything that didn't have an actual prescription attached to it. They also said they wouldn't cover my trips to Vancouver because they were unnecessary and I could find proper treatment in Alberta. (Laughable at best) I'd say claim the visits for sure, but in my experience earlier this year that's all I could get back on my taxes.

Hi nester - welcome to our community.

Did your accountant say they wouldn't accept your trips to Vancouver? or the government rejected it? just wondering who said you could get proper treatment in Alberta?
There are no MD's treating chronic lyme...except for the one who has a waitlist of at least a year...and last I heard he is not adding anymore names to his waitlist.

My accountant showed me the information and it does say that if you can't get treatment locally, they will cover the costs - this includes travel (ie airfare), hotels, meals. And, if you can't travel alone, it also covers a companion.

But, she also told me to get a note from my Dr. saying that there was no treatment available within 80 km of my home.


So are you seeing LLND EC?

I didn't claim prescription costs...most of mine are 80% covered with Blue Cross.
Although the Mepron wasn't...hmmm

It could be over $1000.00 back for us. I had two visits....with airfare, meals, hotels, appt visits.

i don't work, but my husband can claim it.

I didn't think it varied from province to province. Did you read the tax guide online? - it does give directions to claim travel out of country if there is not treatment in Canada.
There is one MD in Alberta ...but his waitlist was a year long and last I heard he stopped taking patients. (initials RH)
So, you just need a letter (you don't have to submit it according to my accountant...unless they do a review and ask for it) - the letter from your Dr. has to say that you couldn't get treatment here.
I haven't asked my Dr. yet...but will at my next appt.

No harm in trying - even without the Dr. note...it will just get refused once they do an investigation...that's all.

just updating - We did get refunds on our income tax.
Did appts cost, hotel, food, airfare for myself and husband. (couldn't travel alone)


And it was well worth it...no auditing so far.